$$$$$$ Worshipping Diana $$$$$$

Act 19:21-27 KJVR

(21)  After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

(22)  So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

(23)  And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

(24)  For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

(25)  Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

(26)  Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

(27)  So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at naught; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshipped.

The first thing we see is that Paul chose to stay in Ephesus and sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia.  Luke (the writer of ACTS) does not tell us why Paul decided to stay.  However, Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 16: 8, 9.

He says that he will stay until Pentecost.  That an opportunity has presented itself but there is going to be opposition.

The opposition that Paul talks about is the goddess Diana.  The people of Ephesus worshipped this goddess.  Paul had a huge opportunity to tell the people there about Jesus and he was not about to let it slip by.

However, along with worshiping idols the people had created a lucrative business.  Demetrius the silversmith was making little dolls in the likeness of Diana and selling them to all who came to worship.  Pentecost promised to be a profitable time.

We see the same thing happening today.  People will do just about anything to make money.  It is certainly true that the love of money is the root of all evil.

Paul preached the gospel and people believed, which caused a drop in the Diana figurine sells.

Paul was willing to change his plans to take advantage of the opportunities that God gave him.  How many times in our lives do we get so caught up in our lives that we fail to be on task for God?

Come back next week to see what happens next.